Closing Bell: Sensex Falls Over 700 Points, Nifty 50 Slips Nearly 1% Below 24,000 as Crude Oil Crosses $100

Indian equity benchmarks ended lower on Monday, April 13, with both the Sensex and Nifty 50 declining nearly 1 per cent, tracking weak Asian markets. The downturn came after crude oil prices surged above USD 100 per barrel following the failure of U.S.-Iran peace talks over the weekend, raising concerns about India’s economic growth and corporate profitability.

The Nifty volatility index rose sharply to 20.5 from 18.8 on Friday, indicating heightened market uncertainty. Among index heavyweights, HDFC Bank declined significantly, while oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries dropped 2.6 per cent, weighing on the benchmarks.

The Nifty 50 opened with a gap-down of 290 points but managed to recover some losses during the session. At close, the index was down by 207.95 points, or 0.86 per cent, settling at 23,842.65, slipping below the crucial 24,000 mark. The Sensex fell 702.68 points, or 0.91 per cent, to close at 76,847.57. Meanwhile, the Bank Nifty showed relative resilience, declining 0.55 per cent to end at 55,605.

Oil marketing companies came under pressure due to rising crude prices, which threaten margins. BPCL fell 2.14 per cent, HPCL declined 3.11 per cent, and Indian Oil dropped 1.24 per cent.

Escalating tensions in the Middle East pushed energy prices sharply higher, intensifying inflation concerns and fears of slowing global growth. Brent crude futures surged around 8 per cent on Monday, trading above USD 102.50 per barrel.

On the sectoral front, 10 out of 11 key indices ended in negative territory. Broader markets, however, outperformed the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap index declining 0.57 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index falling 0.46 per cent.

The Nifty Energy index emerged as the top-performing sector, gaining 0.06 per cent, with half of its constituents ending in the green. The index also extended its winning streak to the seventh consecutive trading session. On the downside, the Nifty Auto index was the worst performer, slipping 2.09 per cent.

Among individual stocks, Tata Chemicals rose 4 per cent amid speculation regarding the potential listing of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd. Aether Energy surged 5.19 per cent after the Delhi government unveiled a draft EV policy.

Key contributors supporting the index included ICICI Bank, which added 45.71 points, followed by NTPC contributing 6.33 points, and HDFC Life Insurance Company adding 3.51 points.

On the other hand, major laggards included HDFC Bank, which dragged the index by 52.23 points, Reliance Industries by 51.86 points, and Maruti Suzuki India by 18.12 points.

Market breadth remained negative on April 13, 2026. Out of 3,325 stocks traded on the NSE, 1,306 advanced, while 1,929 declined and 90 remained unchanged.

A total of 69 stocks touched their 52-week highs, whereas 9 stocks hit their 52-week lows. Additionally, 73 stocks were locked in Upper Circuits, while 21 stocks were locked in Lower Circuits.

Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.